Hamilton Russell Vineyards – one of the most southerly wine estates in Africa and one of the closest to the sea – pioneered viticulture and winemaking in the beautiful, cool, maritime, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation, just behind the old fishing village of Hermanus. The Estate specialises in producing highly individual, terroir driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which are widely regarded as among the finest in the New World, while bearing, at times, an uncanny resemblance to classic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Old World.

Owner, Anthony Hamilton Russell, took over from his father and founder, Tim Hamilton Russell in 1991, and bought the property from the family in 1994. Tim originally purchased the undeveloped 170 hectare property in 1975 and was the pioneering winegrower in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley with their first vintage in 1981. Anthony narrowed their focus to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay alone and registered Hamilton Russell Vineyards as an “Estate”, committing to only work with grapes from their terroir. Extensive soil research in 1994 identified 52 hectares of stony, iron and clay-rich, shale-derived soil as optimal for the individual, classic, origin expressive style they aim for. The team focuses on producing a single estate grown Pinot noir and a single estate grown Chardonnay as a red and white expression of their 52 hectare monopole on their 170 hectare estate.

Anthony with his wife Olive, winemaker Emul Ross and viticulturist Johan Montgomery, are completely dedicated to expressing the personality of Hamilton Russell Vineyards in their wines. Tiny yields and intense worldwide demand keep the elegant, highly individual, estate grown Pinot noir and Chardonnay in short supply.